Vampire in the Woods (Merlin's Hoods Book 2) by Carl Waters

changed his mind about using the boy to draw her out. Because once the master withdrew his protection, she knew, the others would be on the boy. And then it would be far too late.
    What to do? she asked herself silently. She couldn’t fight all four vampires at once, particularly if one of them was a master. Vampires were beyond her ken, for the most part, and though she thought she could probably handle one at a time, a master would … challenge her. Greatly. She needed to separate them to start, and kill them as she got them alone. Preferably kill the underlings first; if they were dead, they wouldn’t be able to come to the master’s aid. And if she got him alone … well, she just might stand a chance. If luck were on her side.
    Ducking down, and before she could think any further on it, she grabbed a stone and heaved it toward the door. It hit with a sharp crack, bringing up a cloud of dust, and she crouched, her hands on her daggers. But there was no response from those within. Frowning, she threw another rock, harder this time, so that it left a mark in the door.
    “Come out, come out, whichever you choose,” she breathed out, her hands going back to her daggers, her skin tingling with the coming conflict. She could feel the power of the hood awakening in her blood, its fire beginning to race through her veins, singing. Yes, the hood was ready for this fight. And so was she.
    “Find out what that is!” she heard the oldest vampire snarl suddenly.
    She maintained her distance but glanced through the window again and saw one of the younger vampires start to move toward the door. She smiled. Good. The younger creatures wouldn’t have as much experience, and had likely never faced the Red Hood, with her greater strength and intelligence.
    With luck, this one would never know what hit him.
    She watched him open the door and glance around the clearing, his face drawn into a frown. When he didn’t see anyone, he stepped through the door and onto the dusty stoop, leaving the door open behind him as he walked farther into the clearing.
    Suddenly Angeline sprang into motion, jumping forward to grasp the creature and throw him to the edge of the clearing before he could make a sound. Within moments, she was in front of him, her hands up in protective positions.
    To her surprise, the vampire laughed at her. “Such a little woman!” he chuckled. “And an unarmed one at that. Foolish girl.” He looked up her up and down, his eyes considering. “This is a boon for me, little Red Hood. I will kill you and take you to the master. He will be pleased with me for bringing him his second dead Hood.”
    She didn’t wait to hear any more from him. Her hands flashed from their defensive positions into action, driving into his nose and then his throat so quickly that he didn’t have time to react. He reached for her, but too slowly, and she whirled away from his hands and came to face him again, now behind him. A quick jab to his lower back sent him sprawling to the ground, and she kicked him once, twice, and then again, using the heel of her boots to do as much damage as possible.
    The vampire, now paying attention, jumped to his feet with a snarl, his fangs suddenly exposed. “Foolish human,” he hissed. “Now I will kill you.”
    But Angeline had thrown herself to the ground before he was finished speaking, and tucked herself into a roll. She came back up on his other side, nearly laughing at how easy it was. Young vampires were quicker than werewolves, but they weren’t as strong, which meant that she could evade his grasp more easily than she’d thought she could. She was breathing hard, but she had the advantage now.
    When he turned back toward her, his eyes glowing with fury, she was ready, one of the silver-tipped stakes in her hand. He rushed forward, his fangs bared, and she brought the stake up and shoved it forward, driving it right into his heart.
    The vampire exploded on the tip of her dagger, becoming